Australian prices.

Last service was 60,000 and needed new front discs and pads. The service and the disc and pad change was nearly $2,000.00 at the dealer.

I got a call today saying the car will be ready Monday morning.

Minor service cost: $395
Alternator: $1040
Labour to remove and refit new alternator: $340

Total: $1775.00
Discounted down to $1500

I called up a FIAT specialist, though in Melbourne (I'm in Sydney). He's not a dealer, but he would have to order the alternator from the dealer. His price was the same. His labour was the same. And his quote was close to the mark. With a second hand alternator with no warranty or guarantee it'll work, it was $500 instead of $1040 for a new one. I didn't want to gamble $500. So I put a bet on the new one working for $1040. A sure thing.

So, that's Australian prices.

my alternator cost usd600 original and new.labour usd50. this is fully imported and original. fiat dealer in Malaysia have been terminated by Italy. so parts a bit hard to get here

The Importer here in Australia is known to be exorbitant. Plus, it's Australia. There aren't any other countries around us to make shipping worth while, so things have to get sent to us specifically. Everything here is expensive.

If they had not discontinued the Punto here (no longer sold in Australia), a Grande Punto Sport is around the $35,000 mark. If the Abarth Punto came here it would have been a $60,000 car.... equivalent to a low to mid spec 1 series BMW.

That's why no one buys these things here. And that's why the importer has discontinued them, and the Ritmo. The only FIAT we can now buy brand new is the 500. And I think we only get a choice of one model.

Well, now the Punto is fixed, all is well. However, I'm thinking about selling it and perhaps buying a 124 or a 125 like my brother had. Parts are easier to find and cheaper too.